The Use the Nets 1 on 1 Puck Protection drill from Phillip Barski focuses on teaching defensemen how to use the back of the net as a shield to evade forecheckers, improve puck protection, and develop deception in tight spaces.
Setup
- Use two nets placed approximately eight feet apart.
- One coach with pucks is positioned nearby to start each rep.
- One defenseman begins behind the net with the puck.
- One forechecker starts at one of the posts.
Execution
- The coach passes a puck to the defenseman behind the net to begin the drill.
- The forechecker pressures the defenseman, either forcing him to one side or chasing behind the net.
- The defenseman works to manipulate the puck and use the net as a shield to evade pressure.
- He can escape to either post, using deception via head fakes, shoulder movement, or stick positioning.
- The coach signals readiness for a breakout pass by putting his stick on the ice after having it raised.
- Once the pass is made, the rep ends and the next group steps in.
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to use of the net for protection.
- Use deception to escape from forecheckers in tight situations.
Variations
- Can set the nets up in different areas of the ice.
Supplemental Materials
- The second video shown is from Phillip's presentation on A Defenceman's Blueprint To Breaking Pucks Out at the Brock University High Performance Hockey Seminar
